Yer actual Keith Telly Topping's beloved (though unsellable) Newcastle United have confirmed that the club is still for sale and that contract talks with manager Rafa Benitez are 'ongoing.' Owner Mike Ashley put The Magpies up for sale in October after ten years in charge of the Premier League club which has seen a few highs and more than a few catastrophic lows. In January he ended two hundred and fifty million knicker takeover talks with businesswoman Amanda Staveley, though Staveley said that she was still interested. At a fans forum last week, the club stated 'the position has not changed. If or when there is anything to update, the club would do so,' it added. Newcastle also confirmed talks are 'ongoing' over extending the contract of Rafa The Gaffer, who has a year remaining on his current deal. Ashley has been a divisive figure at St James' Park, with some supporters regularly protesting about the way the businessman has run the club after buying it for one hundred and thirty four million smackers in 2007. At the time, his takeover from the previous owner, the late Freddie Sheppard, was widely celebrated by many supporters who expected that the club being bought by the billionaire owner of the Sports Direct brand would be a good thing. Instead, it turned into an almost textbook example of that age-old truism, 'be careful what you wish for, it might just come true.' Ashley has made a number of highly unpopular decisions, including - briefly - changing the name of St James' Park to The Sports Direct Arena. The club have been relegated twice from the Premier League during Ashley's reign - albeit, they've bounced straight back up at the first time of asking on both occasions - and are currently tenth in the top flight, having won promotion last season under the popular and widely-respected Benitez, who joined United in March 2016.
Live football matches could be shown exclusively over the Interweb in the UK for the first time after Sky lost the rights to broadcast Spain's La Liga. Eleven Sports, founded by the Dirty Leeds owner, Andrea Radrizzani, has acquired exclusive rights to the Spanish top flight for three years, starting from the 2018-19 season. It brings an end to an association with Sky Sports which has lasted for more than two decades, although the broadcaster may yet be able to show games through a secondary agreement with the new rights holders. 'We are proud to build on our existing relationship with La Liga, this time in the UK, one of the most passionate football countries in the world,' said Eleven Sports' chief executive, Marc Watson, in a statement. 'We will announce soon how we will introduce innovative ways for dedicated fans to watch and engage in the live action. The way people, especially young people, watch live sport is changing and we always try to reflect that in the ways we make our product available.' Eleven Sports would not say how much it is paying for La Liga coverage, but the arrangement comes in a declining market for sports rights. Earlier this year, Sky achieved a fourteen per cent discount in securing the rights to Premier League matches and it is understood that the broadcaster was unwilling to continue paying the eighteen million knicker per season agreed under its current deal with La Liga. That has left an opening for a new entrant in the market. Operating in seven countries across Europe, Asia and North America, Eleven Sports claims to have seventeen million paying customers and describes itself as 'a platform agnostic' broadcaster. In Poland and Belgium, for example, Eleven Sports has both its own TV channel, and 'an over the top' online streaming service - industry shorthand for the delivery of film and TV content via the Internet, without requiring users to subscribe to a traditional cable or satellite pay-TV service. In the US, meanwhile, Eleven Sports leases content through broadcasters and telecoms companies. The company has not revealed which approach it will adopt in the UK. According to the Gruniad Morning Star - citing no evidence - 'there had been speculation' that the Premier League could strike a deal with an OTT broadcaster under its latest rights deal, but that has not yet come about.
West Hamsters United striker Andy Carroll has apologised and returned to training after a row with manager David Moyes. Carroll was sent home from training on Monday after Moyes was reportedly unhappy with him leaving the bench early in Sunday's match against Sheikh Yer Man City. Moyes made a triple substitution during the game, a four-one defeat for The Hamsters and Carroll headed to the dressing room early. He was reportedly sent home after he refused to apologise to Moyes on Monday. The club now considers the matter settled. Javier Hernandez, Joao Mario and Arthur Masuaku were sent on in the second half against City, leaving a frustrated Carroll to depart for the dressing room and not return before full-time. Speaking after the match, Moyes said: 'It's something I'll deal with. In this situation what you need is everybody to be a team member, so if he has done that, I'll look at it and I'll deal with it.'
Graeme Murty has been extremely sacked as Glasgow Rangers manager following Sunday's five-nil hammering by Scottish champions Celtic. 'He will take some time to consider his options, which include returning to his role at the Rangers academy,' said the club. In December, the forty three-year-old had been given the job until the end of the season after a spell in interim charge following Pedro Caixinha's sacking. But he has now been 'relieved of his duties.' Rangers' next game is at home to Kilmarnock and the club said that assistants Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson would 'take charge of the team for the three remaining matches of the season.' Former Reading and Scotland full-back Murty had expressed his desire to continue in the job, but Rangers have been in talks about appointing Liverpool youth coach Steven Gerrard for next season, a move which was confirmed on Friday. 'The club hopes to be in a position to comment further on the managerial situation in the near future,' Rangers said in a statement. 'Rangers are grateful to Graeme, who did not hesitate when asked last October to become interim manager after the departure of Pedro Caixinha and then, at the turn of the year, when he was offered the role as manager until the end of the season. Graeme has had to contend with difficult and challenging circumstances but conducted himself in a thoroughly professional manner.' Murty was first promoted from his role as development squad manager when Mark Warburton left the club in February 2017 before joining Nottingham Forest. Having reverted to his previous role, he stood in for a second time when Caixinha exited in October. When Aberdeen's Derek McInnes rejected an offer to be Rangers manager, Murty was told he would remain in charge until the end of the season. However, before this month's Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic, Rangers chairman Dave King released a statement saying that the club were looking to make 'the best appointment they can' for next season. It was widely interpreted as a sign that Murty would not be in charge for the next campaign. Rangers went on to suffer a four-nil defeat at Hampden against their Glasgow rivals, after which club captain Lee Wallace and veteran striker Kenny Miller were suspended by the club following a dressing-room disagreement with Murty. Then, before Sunday's final league derby of the season, it emerged the Ibrox club were in talks with former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard. Murty said in a pre-match interview that the speculation had affected him personally and his team went on to lose even more heavily at Celtic Park than they had done in the cup, as Brendan Rodgers' side secured a seventh consecutive league title. Rangers did not make Murty or any of his players available for interview after Sunday's game, despite a requirement from the Scottish Professional Football League. Rodgers subsequently expressed sympathy for his counterpart, saying Murty had been 'thrown to the garbage' and been treated with disrespect by Rangers.
Leicester's Marc Albrighton has been charged by the Football Association for his 'behaviour' towards referee Mike Dean in the game with Crystal Palace. The winger was shown a straight red card fifty six minutes into last Saturday's five-nil defeat for pulling down Wilfried Zaha, before reacting angrily towards Dean. Leicester boss Claude Puel said that Albrighton's sending-off was 'harsh.' In a statement the FA said that the charge 'relates to his behaviour towards the referee after his sending-off.'
Dirty Stoke have confirmed that forward Jese Rodriguez has 'taken unpaid compassionate leave' for the remainder of his contract. The twenty five-year-old Spaniard has 'encountered several disciplinary problems' during his season-long loan spell from Paris St-Germain. He left the bench early during Dirty Stoke's win over Swansea in December and failed to report to training last month. Rodriguez has not featured for the first team since March. Manager Paul Lambert said last week that he had 'no intention' of recalling the former Real Madrid player, or twelve million knicker signing Saido Berahino who has been training with the under-twenty three squad having becoming something of a national joke over failing to score a goal for more than two years. Rodriguez scored one goal in thirteen appearances during his loan spell with The Potters. Indeed, it's a toss up between him and Daniel Sturridge as to which has been the season's most disastrous loan signing.
Blunderland's turmoil after back-to-back relegations has nothing to do with outgoing owner Ellis Short, according to former manager Gus Poyet. The Mackem Filth will play in the third tier for the first time in thirty years next season, while Short has finally agreed a long-awaited sale of the club this week. 'There is something inside the club that doesn't let it be as successful as it should be,' Poyet told BBC Sport. 'I don't think it is anything to do with Ellis Short.' The Uruguayan said that the current situation is 'incredible,' adding: 'It hurts a lot because I had a great time there.' Poyet was one of nine managers employed by Blunderland during Short's reign but was sacked in 2015 with the club then seventeenth in the Premier League. Short has owned Blunderland for nine years and during his time in charge the club repeatedly escaped relegation from the top flight before finally dropping out of the Premiership last season and then suffered the same fate in the Championship this campaign. Short has been heavily criticised in recent seasons for a lack of spending and a distant relationship with the club as he tried to sell - Chris Coleman, who was the latest Blunderland manager to be sacked on Sunday following relegation, claimed he had not spoken to Short during his six months in charge. But Poyet claimed that he has 'no complaints' about his relationship with Short. 'We always talked regularly when he was in England, London, Sunderland or in America,' Poyet said. 'When you change the manager many times and it doesn't get better, then people blame the directors and the chairman. I had a fantastic time with him when I was there. We were always very honest to each other, he knows what I think about everything that was happening there and it is fantastic for him to remember those things I said to him and that will stay between us.' Poyet took charge of Blunderland in October 2013 with the club bottom of the Premier League. Four victories and a draw from their final six league games helped to keep them up that season - a run which included wins at Moscow Chelski FC and The Scum, plus a draw at Shekih Yer Man City. The Uruguayan also led the Wearsiders to the 2014 Capital One Cup final, which they lost to City. Another former manager, Simon Grayson, who started this season in charge of The Mackems, added: 'It's very difficult to solely put the blame on Ellis because he's invested something like two hundred million pounds into a football club and anybody who invests that sort of money has a real affinity with a club.'
Meanwhile, prospective new Blunderland owner Stewart Donald has cleared another obstacle to his impending purchase by agreeing the sale of non-league club Eastleigh. Donald must sell Eastleigh before he can complete his takeover of League One-bound Blunderland. It is understood the sale will now be ratified by the National League. Providing there are no problems, Donald could be in a position to take control at Blunderland at some point next week. The news comes as Blunderland published annual accounts showing the football club's debt rose to over one hundred and twenty five million smackers. Figures show the debt of the club's parent company also rose from one hundred and thirty seven million knicker to one hundred and sixty seven million, of which just under ninty one million notes was owed to outgoing Sunderland owner Ellis Short. Financial details of Donald's purchase of the club have not been revealed but it is understood Short has agreed to clear the debt in order to push through the sale. The accounts to 31 July 2017 cover Sunderland's relegation from the Premier League. Turnover rose by eighteen million quid thanks to the new Premier League TV deal. Blunderland also revealed their highest paid director - understood to be chief executive Martin Bain - received £1.24m. The club reported a pre-tax loss of just under ten million knicker, a figure which was helped by the twenty five million quid sale of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to Everton.
Stephen Fry had led the tributes to Wes Hoolahan who played his final game for Norwich City last Saturday. The Irish international scored a goal, an assist and the man of the match award as The Canaries beat Dirty Leeds two-one at Carrow Road. It was a fitting finale for a man who made over three hundred and fifty appearances for Norwich and tributes poured in from fans, team mates, managers and coaches. Fry, a lifelong fan of the club and former director, paid homage to one of their greats. He wrote on Twitter: 'A huge (manly and appropriate) hug to Wes Hoolahan, one of Norwich City FC's greatest ever servants. He goes out on a goal and a win. Bravo and thank you.' The Dubliner wrote an emotional letter last week announcing his departure from the club. He said: 'It's been a great ten years at this Club. The fans have been amazing to me, the club have been great and I'm going to miss the place. I've thoroughly enjoyed myself at Norwich City and it's going to be an emotional day on Saturday against Leeds. I just want to say to the fans thanks for the support, you've been amazing throughout my whole time here. I'm looking forward to my next challenge and to organising a testimonial for next year. I've had a brilliant time.'
A South African footballer who was struck by lightning during a match has died in hospital, his club confirmed. Maritzburg United striker Luyanda Ntshangase had been in an induced coma since being injured in the friendly game on 1 March. In a statement on Facebook, the club described him as one its rising young stars and said the team was 'in mourning.' Maritzburg United are currently fourth in South Africa's Premier League. 'We are extremely sad about the loss of Luyanda, an exciting young player with enormous potential,' said Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia in the statement. 'On behalf of Maritzburg United Football club, we would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Ntshangase family.' Ntshangase had risen though the club's ranks and made his debut against Kaizer Chiefs two seasons ago. He was one of three players caught by the bolt of lightning during the match in KwaZulu-Natal. The two others were only slightly hurt but Ntshangase suffered burns to his chest, South African media report. The player's death is the third tragedy to hit Maritzburg United in recent years. Promising midfielders Mondli Cele and Mlondi Dlamini both died in separate car accidents in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
A sports broadcaster has attracted praise for hitting a football fan after being 'groped' on live TV. During a post-match report on the CONCACAF Champions League Final between Guadalajara and Toronto FC, reporter Maria Fernanda Mora was seen making her live broadcast. In the video, Mora is surrounded by excited fans. She then turns around and hits one man with her microphone. Mora later explained what happened to her in a letter, which she posted online. 'What happened to me at dawn on Thursday, happens to thousands of women every day in public spaces. The difference is that it happened to me during a live link on television and I decided to defend myself. My reaction is what turned the fact into something viral,' she wrote. 'I thought, it could be an accidental rubbing because of people's pushing and I kept talking to the camera. This guy, emboldened because I did not react and kept doing my job, put his hand between my buttocks twice more. I decided to defend myself.' Maria went on to say that women 'will not be quiet' when it comes to the subject of sexual harassment and followers were quick to praise her for taking a stand.
Several Iranian women have caught people's attention by revealing the lengths they go to to attend a football match. Donning beards and wigs, they disguised themselves as men so they could watch their team, Persepolis, play rivals Sepidrood at the Azadi stadium in Tehran last Friday. Although there's no official ban on women going to sporting events in Iran, it is rare for them to attend as they are often refused entry. Prior to the Islamic revolution of 1979, women were allowed to attend sporting events. Women have been punished for attending games in the past. In 2014, British-Iranian activist Ghoncheh Ghavami was detained after attempting to watch a men's volleyball match in Iran. And in March 2018 thirty five women were detained for trying to attend a football match. In February, women were allowed to watch a major basketball game in Tehran - but they had to sit in an area separate to men. For one of the women pictured, it was the third time she had pulled off the trick. In an interview she gave to the moderate newspaper Iran, she explained that each time she had sneaked in she had used a different disguise and make-up. 'I Google for different make-up [tutorials] and learn new ways and apply them to go to the stadium,' she said. She told the newspaper she had been stopped by security only once. She encouraged other women to get in touch and offered to train them in disguise techniques. Asked whether she was ever scared of being detained, she replied: 'Why should I be scared? We women do not commit any crimes by going to stadiums. The law has not defined women's presence at stadiums as a crime. They have, of course, detained a few women and they have given a written promise not to go back there again.'
A referee has been attacked by players after making a controversial decision in Ethiopia's football premier league. The military team Defence and Welwalo Adigrat University were drawing one-one when the referee ruled the ball crossed the line and gave a goal to Defence. Welwalo Adigrat players got all stroppy and discombobulated and chased him, got him on the ground and he was punched by one of their coaches. The coach has been fired and the Ethiopian Football Federation has suspended all games in the league. A video posted online by state broadcaster ETV shows the referee attempting to defend himself with a corner flag. There have been several instances of violence in the Ethiopian game recently.
Europe's top leagues are 'firmly opposed' to plans by world governing body FIFA to introduce 'a global Nations League' and expand the Club World Cup. The European Leagues, an association with representatives from thirty two countries, has called the move reminiscent of 'the way the old FIFA acted.' Last month, BBC Sport reported that FIFA will meet in May to discuss the launch of two tournaments. The tournaments would be projected to generate twenty five billion dollars in wonga. 'To present a long-term twelve-year plan with lots of uncertainty and a lack of information sounds, to me, like a can of worm,' said Lars-Christer Olsson, president of the European Leagues. FIFA is proposing to expand the Club World Cup to twenty four teams, including twelve from Europe, with the competition staged every four years instead of annually. It also wants to introduce a new global Nations League based on the format UEFA's Nations League, which commences after the World Cup later this year. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has put his plans to FIFA's council and says they are backed by an unnamed international consortium of investors. However, European Leagues - which includes the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga among its membership - is also 'concerned' that the potential distribution of funds from club tournaments to successful teams would increase the financial gap between top teams and those not involved. The association has called on the World League Forum and all European football stakeholders, in particular Europe's governing body UEFA, the European Club Association and players' organisation FIFPro, to stand against FIFA as the process 'lacks transparency and a proper consultation with the stakeholders.'
Champions League finalists Real Madrid will not give new La Liga champions Barcelona a guard of honour before Sunday's El Clasico at the Nou Camp. A rather petulant and petty gesture which, frankly, tells you everything you need to know about the arrogance of Real and why most football supporters can't bloody stand them. Barca gave Real the honour in 2008 when the capital side had just won the league. But Zinedine Zidane was reportedly 'annoyed' when Barcelona did not see his side out on to the pitch after they won the Club World Cup in December. Barca are four games away from going an entire league season unbeaten. The Catalan side, who beat Deportivo La Coruna four-two last weekend to seal the domestic double, have not lost in a record forty one league games dating back over a year. No side has ever gone unbeaten for a Spanish top-flight campaign since since the 1930s when there were only eighteen games in a season. Real Madrid, the deposed champions, are fifteen points behind Barce - but set up a Champions League final against Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws this week by beating Bayern Munich four-three on aggregate.
A set of unused tickets for every match of the Euro Ninety Six football championship has been found in an old suitcase. The tournament, held in England in June 1996, had the slogan football comes home and saw the hosts lose to Germany on penalties in the semi-finals. Ah, Gareth Southgate. 'Why didn't he just smash it?' And all that. The thirty one tickets include the final and have a face value of over sixteen hundred quid. It remains a mystery why they were not used. The tickets, found among old cigarette cards in Stoke-on-Trent, are set to go on auction in Derbyshire next month. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that he took his grandfather's cards for valuation when he came across the tickets, which had been inside a suitcase his mother had given him ten years ago. 'It's a complete mystery,' he said. 'My mum, who died last year at the age of ninety, certainly wasn't interested in football. I have no idea how they ended up in the suitcase. I don't think my mum was a ticket tout!' He believes that she may have picked up the tickets at a car boot sale without realising what she had. An estimate of between one hundred and one hundred and fifty notes has been placed on the set, which is to be sold on 23 May in Etwall. Alistair Lofley, a 'football valuer' at Hansons Auctioneers, said the owner of the tickets would not have been able to make every game, as some were played at the same time and speculated that the tickets might have been competition prizes. 'For any diehard football fan, to think of these tickets going begging is hard to swallow,' he said.
